Friday, 27 July 2012

This was one of the lip products that I won from the lovely Sukie at A Little Bit of Everything in a recent giveaway. I was so excited to receive this Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain in Honey, as these lip stains have been touted as a more affordable alternative to the Clinique Chubby Sticks which I adore but do find a little on the pricey side.

The packaging of the Balm Stain is almost identical to Clinique's offerings, with the stick twisting up from the bottom, therefore meaning no need to sharpen it. You do have to be careful when replacing the cap though as it can smoosh against the tip of the product if you are not careful - take it from someone who has already done just that!

Honey is a gorgeous, suits all nude shade which appears a light rose pink on the lips. It is such a great everyday my-lips-but-better look! I can see it being a go-to staple of my daily look as it is so easy to apply on the go - I feel like I am using a giant crayon to colour in my lips!

Wear time is up to two hours, which I find similar to the Chubby Sticks. There is a slight minty scent which I found was only
detectable when sniffing the actual product but when applied to the
lips, it is undetectable. I didn't find it at all drying, contrary to other reviews I have read, but it wasn't quite as moisturising as the Clinique products. I would certainly term it more of a stain or lip stick rather than a lip balm.

Verdict

The Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains are an excellent cheaper alternative to the Clinique Chubby sticks and are, in my opinion just as high performing. I can see this particular shade being flattering to most skin tones and it would be especially suitable for those who do not like strong, vibrant lips but want a subtle polished look or something work friendly. If you haven't yet had a look at the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains, go and take a look!

Wednesday, 25 July 2012

I'm over pastels this Summer already and when I spied the Essie Mirror Metallics Collection on sale, I was unable to resist picking up a few - ahem, the whole 5 piece collection! Well, what's a girl to do when she can't choose?!

I purchased the collection from eBay as I find Essie, OPI and China Glaze so much cheaper when buying from the US. I used The Color Elf and shipping and delivery was within a week, perfect for impatient shoppers like me.

The Mirror Metallics Collection is truly beautiful and contains five eye-catching shades, from left to right:

Good as Gold - a true gold chrome

Penny Talk - a gorgeous rose gold

Nothing Else Metals - a metallic lavender which leans slightly pink

Blue Rhapsody - a light silvery blue chrome

No Place Like Chrome - a slightly blue-toned silver, perhaps the least unique colour in the collection, it reminds me a little of tin foil.

All of the polishes were on the thicker side and I was able to achieve opaquity with only one coat. As with other metallic polishes, you do have to be wary of brush strokes but as it only requires the one coat, it is much easier to manage.

For me, the stand out shade is Penny Talk, it is so pretty and shimmery and it looks modern and classy. No Place Like Chrome is probably the shade which is the most dupable and you may already have a similar shade in your collection.

Verdict

I have long been a fan of Essie's polishes and I am pleased to confirm that they have again succeeded in bringing out a small but coherent collection that I found to be instantly covertable. Formula and wear time were consistent with other Essie polishes. Stand out shades are Penny Talk and Blue Rhapsody, but to be fair, if you purchase any of these shades, you are unlikely to be disappointed. The only negative point for me is that they are only available in full size bottles as I do prefer the mini bottles often released with collections by Essie.

5/5

Price - £7.99, although you can purchase for around £5 / bottle on US ebay.

Tuesday, 24 July 2012

I don't know if there is much I can say about the 50 Shades books that hasn't already been said, but I did manage to resist them for as long as I could until curiosity got the better of me! I much preferred the first two books to the third which I felt dragged somewhat and I did find all of the books rather unrealistic, but I guess that is the point of them really! A somewhat guilty pleasure and very different from what I would usually read, but I felt I needed to read them to form an opinion on them!

Railsea - China Mieville

Again, very different from my normal reading, this book is essentially a retelling of the story of Moby Dick, but in a future world where water has all but disappeared and instead is replaced by rail tracks. Focusing on a boy named Sham, the novel is essentially a cross between a coming-of-age and an adventure tale, but it is so much more than that and to try to describe it in a brief paragraph would not do it justice. It is marketed as a Young Adult book but I found the themes quite complex and it certainly reads more like an adult novel. If you like to be transported to another world that you can easily lose yourself in for hours, I can thoroughly recommend it. I have also enjoyed one of Mieville's past novels The City & The City, which is on a similar theme.

It's All News To Me - Jeremy Vine

I'm really interested in broadcasting and journalism, and I this autobiography of the Radio 2 presenter, Jeremy Vine, appealed as it gives a behind the scenes look of what goes on in TV and radio news and presenting. Differing from many autobiographies, it skims over the early years of his childhood and gets straight into the gossip and stories from his life at the BBC, from his beginnings in journalism as a political correspondent to his current job on Radio 2 (and yes, I am old listening to Radio 2!). I liked how informal the book was in its tone and it was a very easy, quick read. If you are interested in journalism or politics I would strongly recommend it.

Have you read any of these books?

If you have read any of the 50 Shades books, what did you think of them?

Monday, 23 July 2012

After a self-imposed curb on beauty product spending, I've recently found my shopping mojo again and this week, I've had a lovely selection of goodies come into my possession.

I went a bit crazy on the nail polish front and purchased 6 Essie polishes - the entire Mirror Metallics collection, and Lilacism, which I've had my eye on for quite some time.

I won a giveaway from the lovely Sukie at A Little Bit of Everything, of one of the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stains which I have been dying to get my hands on, along with a Lancome Juicy Tube in Mandarin and a No 7 Lip Liner in Nude. I'm so excited to try all of these out as I am a total lip product junkie!

And finally, Charlie at Lady of the Lane held a blog sale earlier in the week where I picked up two items - a Mac Lip Gelee in Lush & Bright and a Chanel liner in Platine.

Let me know if there are any items you would like to see reviewed. I'm off for a play with my new goodies!

Tuesday, 17 July 2012

Have you ever had that
moment when you are away from home for a few days and you realise you
have forgotten to pack your one essential beauty product? Last month, I
went away for the weekend to Aberdeen and upon getting ready for my
night out, realised I had forgotten to bring any eyeliner with me!

A quick dash to Boots
was required, where I found this - Max Factor Kohl in Black. Now unlike
many kohl which profess to be black and are in fact just a wimpy, washed
out grey, this one is a super deep black.

I love how dark it is,
yet it is still ultra soft and great for smudging for a sultry, smokey
eye. I've been using it on the waterline and whilst I do find that it
stays around without migrating underneath the eye, it does fade
significantly after 5 hours. I haven't yet tested it on the upper lid as
I tend to use pencils and kohls more on the waterline, but i would
imagine it would last longer.

Verdict

This liner was a true
lifesaver in a 'make up emergency' (if there can actually be such a
thing!) and gives a deep, dark look which is perfect for a sultry look.
Lasting power is not fantastic however, and you may need to reapply
throughout the day.

Monday, 16 July 2012

I'm constantly searching for products that leave my hair soft and manageable and prolonging my colour. I've tried several over the years and have always come back to the TiGi Dumb Blonde collection. Recently, I decided to give Redken a try, as I realised it was a brand I had never tried previously, and I have to say, I was very impressed.

I purchased both the shampoo and conditioner form the Blonde Glam range, which claims to improve the 'softness and conditioning' of the hair. I found the packaging a little on the dull side - matte golden bottles - but they serve their purpose and I like how the conditioner bottle is smaller than the shampoo as I always seem to run out of shampoo well before I finish the conditioner, meaning I have lots of half-finished conditioners sitting around my bathroom!

The shampoo cleanses well and removes any product build up. The conditioner is the star of the show here though, leaving my hair feeling so soft hubby actually remarked on it (and he never notices these things!). It didn't weigh down my hair and made it look super shiny without appearing lank, which is unheard of with my fine hair.

Verdict

Redken's Blonde Glam Shampoo and Conditioner is truly a godsend for coloured hair and has really transformed my tired tresses into soft, shiny locks with volume and bounce. If you have coloured hair, I would really recommend you try these!

5/5

Price - arond £10

Where to Buy - I found mine atLook Fantastic but you can also buy this in many independant hair salons

Thursday, 12 July 2012

Normally by the middle of July, my summer footcare regime is in full swing. This year, I am still optimistic that my toes will see some sun rather than being encased in wellies and Converse the entire time, and so that I am prepared for any sudden outbursts of sun, I have been maintaining my routine.

Burt's Bees is a brand I admire for its commitment to only using natural ingredients in their products. I'm tried a few of their products and had varying results but, in general, I really admire their ethos. I also find the name humorous for no particular reason!

Their peppermint foot lotion is exactly the way a foot cream should be- rich, quick absorbing and with a strong peppermint scent.

It absorbs quickly and I've been slathering this on 2-3 time a week underneath a pair of cotton socks and my feet are noticeably smoother and softer.

My one grumble is that the tube isn't overly generous in size and it's not super cheap either. The Body Shop's Peppermint Intense Foot Rescue gives you more bang for your buck and is easier on the wallet too.

Verdict

A high-performing, rich foot cream which delivers what it promises. I do wish it was a little cheaper or you got more product though, as with regular application, I cant see this lasting long.

Wednesday, 11 July 2012

As much as. I like playing with beauty products, there are some that I wish would hurry up and be invented!

Self Cleansing Make Up Brushes

I'm so lazy when it comes to cleaning my brushes, I have even been known to buy new ones rather than wash old ones! I know, the shame! I wish there was some easy way of cleaning them, a product a bit like the Bourjois Express Nail Removal where you just put you brush in a container and whip it out and ta da - its clean! How amazing would that be?!

Lip Gloss that doesn't stick to everything in sight!

I
very much enjoy wearing gloss but what I don't enjoy is the transfer
from lips to cups, hair and husbands! It gets everywhere, even the ones
that claim to be less sticky. I'd love a long lasting gloss that gave
that fabulous glossy look without sticking to everything I come into
contact with. I can but dream!

Skintone Adapting Foundation

Now I know we technically have this already with BB Creams but I am talking about medium / full coverage foundation which adapts throughout the year, according to your skintone and is a cinch to blend. I get fed up of having several different foundations on the go throughout the year depending on my tan (or lack of it this Summer) and this would be amazing. I suspect this will never become a possibility though, even if the technology exists, as companies make far more money selling us multiple shades, grr.

Hair Dye Magic Pills

I spend a fortune on my hair every 6 weeks to essentially look exactly the same! As a dark haired girlie who has an addition to bleach, every six weeks I hotfoot it to the salon to get my roots re-tinted. I find it annoying, expensive and rather dull sitting in a chair for 2 hours. I'd love it if I could take a magic pill each day and my hair would turn the colour I wished with no regrowth. Why can't someone invent this?!

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Does anyone else think
that tattoo is a bit of an icky name for an eye shadow? I keep
getting a mental image of someone sticking a needle in my eye!!

I purchased the Maybelline Colour 24hr Tattoo in Eternal Gold a while ago after being particularly enamoured with the same product in taupe (review here). This shadow differs from
the taupe in that it is shimmering rather than matte, although I found
the general consistency of the cream shadow similar.

One slight difference is
that if found it to apply slightly patchily on my lids and it was
certainly not as opaque. It is a gorgeous yellow gold shade which I
could imagine would look amazing on tanned or darker skintones.
The shadow dries fast, so you will need
to apply and blend quickly. I have been applying this with my Mac 239
brush and blending it out to soften it at the edges a little with a
fluffy brush.

Direct Sunlight

I found Eternal Gold to have
slightly less lasting power on my oily lids than the taupe but I suspect
in some part this is due to the fact that it is more of a shimmer
formula. I still found it lasted up to around six hours before showing
signs of wear when used in conjunction with a primer, although bear in
mind I have super oily lids!

Indirect Sunlight

Verdict

Whilst not quite up to
the same high standard as the taupe shadow in the range, this is still very good quality for a cheaper brand. It does require a
little more effort in application than simply swiping and going but it
provides a very pretty, simple look for summer. One aspect of application
I have yet to try is blending it with other shadows. I'd be interested
to know if others have blended these products with other cream or powder
shadows and how they fared.

I am a sucker for balmy lip
products and I really love how easy to use this lip product is. It's
light and non drying and gives a sheer tint to the lips. I do wish it
twisted up rather than having to be sharpened though.

Everyone seems to have been
praising this for ever as a miracle product for transforming your locks
into glistening, shiny tresses. Whilst I wouldn't say it is a miracle,
it has manages to bring my dull, coloured hair back to life and certainly
increased it's shine. I've had this mini bottle for around a month now
and I've hardly made a dent in it so despite a full bottle being rather pricey, it
will last forever!

I've yet to find a
L'Occitane product I don't like and this shower oil us deliciously
moisturising without being greasy. I've only got a small sample of this
from a gift set but I will be investigating the purchase of a full sized
product.

Misses

Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara

I'm going to keep this
brief as I will have a full review of this coming up later in the week.
However I will say that a mascara that weighs down lashes and leaves
smudges is not a party mascara!

Friday, 6 July 2012

I'm still addicted to lighter, balm-type lip products, despite the fact SUmmer appears to have bypassed Scotland this year. Nars Velvet Gloss Pencils had been on my wish list to try for a while and when I did an HQ Hair order recently to stock up on some hair products, this one in Happy Days fell into my basket.

Despite the name and being termed a 'lip pencil', this is not what you would think of as a traditional lip pencil. It is much more akin to Clinique's Chubby Sticks, a thick bulky pencil with encased in the usual Nars matte packaging which I do quite like for its sleekness and simplicity, despite the fact that it has a habbit of attracting all kinds of debris!

The pencil itself is an ammost golden, shimmering coral with a sbtle wet, dewy look which I found rather surprising for a pencil. I always associate lip pencils with dry, matte textures. When swatched, you can see that the colour does appear to be more of a balm / gloss hybrid and it is fairly sheer.

On the lips, you can discern a miniscule amount of shimmer from the golden particles but it is very subtle and is only really noticable when you look closely. The stick glides on easily and doesn't drag at all. The lip swatch below is one coat and it gives an attractive, polsihed glossy sheen to the lips. It feels very light and not at all drying although I do think that the Clinique Chubby Sticks are a little more moisturising. I managed to get about two hours wear time from this product, so it doesn't hang around for long, although this is comparable with other similar gloss / balm hybrid products I have tried. One rather annoying aspect of this product for me though has to be the fact that you need to sharpen it rather than just twist it up like the Chubby Sticks. I found I needed to purchase a sharpener from Nars (£5) as the lip pencil was too big for my exisiting sharpeners. I'm also not keen on the wastage of the product that occurs when sharpening.

Verdict

The Nars Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils are a great formula and deliver sheer, flattering hints of colour to the lips to give a polished, neutral look. I've been wearing this one in Happy Days a lot recently as it is very easy to use on the move too and it doens't require a mirror to apply. My one negative point is the fact that you may need to purchase an additional sharpener and I would prefer a twist up action like the Chubby Sticks. Other than that, I can see most people liking this forumla as it is non-drying and very easy to wear. There are currently eight shades available from nudes to brighter pinks and plums, so there should be something for everyone.

Sunday, 1 July 2012

How can it be 1st July already?! The
year is flying past! I've had another good month trimming my stash of
products and haven't bought an awful lot either due to other expenses so, at
long last, I actually have some space in my beauty draws!!

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Face Wash(review here) - a well-priced face wash that I found particularly suited my
oily / combination skin. I think if you have normal / dry skin it would
be a little harsh for you though. I wouldn't repurchase, simply because I
didn't think it was overly special or unique.

The Body Shop Chocomania Body Scrub(review here) - Loved this, it had just the right amount of scrubbiness present
to exfoliate the skin and contained enough nourishing oils to ensure my skin
was left supple and moisturised. I believe this is limited edition
and will not be around for much longer so if you fancy trying it get along to a
store soon!

No 7 Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser
in Medium / Fair - I've blogged about this tinted moisturiser from No7 many a
time as its my go-to tinted moisturiser. I love how it has SPF15 in it too.
I've lost count of how many tubes of this I have got through and I already have
2 back ups purchased with the Boots / No 7 vouchers, making it a bargain £7 a
tube.

Benefit They're Real Mascara(review here) - I
have a love / hate relationship with this mascara. On the one hand
it leaves me with lovely looking long lashes but on the other hand it is a
nightmare to remove! Despite my best efforts I still find traces of
it on my lashes two days later. I also found that it was making my
sensitive eyes quite sore recently so it has been relegated to empties pile
despite the fact there is still some product left and I've only had it a few
months. I would not repurchase as I think there are better and cheaper
mascaras available.

Label.m Protein Spray - I've had this for
ages and I think it originally came in a Christmas gift set a couple of years
ago. It is essentially a heat protectant spray which I found did the job
well but no better than other similar sprays which are noticeably
cheaper. For this reason, I wouldn't repurchase.

Cowshed Wild Cow Bath and Body Oil -
I don't think there have been any Cowshed products I've tried (save for the
lipbalm) that I haven't loved and this bath oil is no exception. Cowshed
are my favourite bath oils due to their super-moisturising properties. I
think I already have a back up bottle of this waiting in the wings!

Batiste Blush - A handbag staple for me, I
don't go anywhere without a mini can of Batiste these days. Blush was a
new scent for me and, I have to admit, not my favourite. I much prefer the
Tropical scent as it reminds me of holidays. I will repurchase Batiste
but not Blush.

Lavera Hand Cream (mini review here) - a
nice, quick absorbing hand cream. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary
but I did like that it was a natural product. I would perhaps repurchase
if I wasn't so in love with my L'Occitane hand creams!

No7 Quick Thinking Wipes - I think these
have replace the 4 in 1 wipes that No7 used to do but I can't really see any noticeable
difference between the two. I get through a ton of these, both for removing swatches and for
refreshing my skin after exercise. I usually stock up on them when the
Boots / No 7 £5 voucher is floating about but I don't think they are
particularly any better than most other wipes.

Clearasil Overnight Serum - I wouldn't
normally purchase anything from Clearasil as I've previously found them rather
harsh and stripping for my skin. However I won this from their facebook
page a while ago and I have to say I rather like it. You only need to
apply a tiny amount to any blemishes and it totally dries them up
overnight. You will need to ensure you apply a good dose of moisturiser
the next morning though to ensure it doesn't leave you with very dry skin, but
in terms of reducing blemishes and redness quickly, it does the job well. I would
consider repurchasing but I also want to try out the Origins Blemish Treatment
Gel.

Olay Complete Care Daily Cream with SPF15
- A fairly standard moisturiser which includes added SPF15 as a bonus. I
found this did break me out a little as it was a little too rich for my
combination skin. I ended up using it on my dry elbows which actually worked
quite well! I wouldn't repurchase.

Dr Hauschka Hand Cream (review here) - a
thick, but non-greasy hand cream. This was a small travel-sized sample
but unfortunately I couldn't abide the scent so I won't be repurchasing.

Saturday, 30 June 2012

A couple of weeks ago, I had a mini haul
from L'Occitane and bought a couple of their sets to try out some new (to me)
products.

First up, the hand creams:

Rose - If you like rose scents you will
adore this! The fragrance reminds me of gardens on warm Summer's days and
is very authentic rather than synthetic, thanks to the essential oils contained
within it.

Shea Butter - This is marketed as being
for very dry hands and contains 20% shea butter. It also has a gorgeous scent
of almonds present from the almond oil. It is much thicker than the
rose hand cream, although it sinks in just as easily. This will be my
saviour come the winter I think!

Both hand creams sink in very easily and
leave no greasy residue. I have previously tried the Hibiscus hand cream from
L'Occitane and been very impressed with it and I was pleased to see
that other products from the range were equally high-performers.

And now the shower products:

Verbrena Shower Gel- This is one of
L'Occitane's classic scents and was actually the first product I tried from the
brand a few years ago. It remains one of my favourites, with its clean,
classic green but almost citrus scent and is great for waking me up on a sleepy
morning.

Fleur Cherie Shower Gel - As with all of
L'Occitane's products, this has a floral scent but it is tempered slightly by
the orange blossom contained within it. This is a good one to try if you
aren't the biggest fan of floral scents but fancy trying something fresh and
summery.

Pivoine Flora - Containing an extract of
peonies, one of my favourite flowers, this shower gel is unashamedly floral and
girly. I've actually been able to keep this one in the bathroom without
hubby using it all up as he says it is far too girly for him!

Almond Shower Oil - This is a little
different from your regular shower products in that it feels more like a bath
oil. Again, I loved the almond scent and the formulation was divine,
making my skin feel soft and moisturised without leaving an oily film. I
would definitely purchase a full sized bottle.

Friday, 29 June 2012

I was inspired to write this post after seeing Sandra Beauty Balm's post about her collection. I have to say that lip products are my 'thing' and I find it very hard to resist purchasing them on a regular basis!

These are the majority of my collection, although there are bound to be some hiding in the bottom of bags that I haven't photographed. I've linked to reviews where possible. Sorry that this will be a photo-heavy post!

I keep all my lip products in these stackable draws from Muji. I think they were around £9-£10 for the set of two draws but I'm sure you can get cheaper ones elsewhere. I'm almost at capacity with these so I will need to invest in a couple more draws to stack on top of them soon.

In the top draw, I have all my glosses.

And in the bottom draw, my lipsticks. Note that the lipsticks are much tidier!